The Benefits of Massage
Prenatal, Postnatal and Infant Massage
Dr. Fritz Talbot, a doctor from Boston, introduced a form of touch therapy to the United States back in 1938 after touring a children’s clinic in Düsseldorf, Germany. It was there that Dr. Talbot noticed an old woman carrying around a very sick child. When he inquired about her role at the clinic he was told “ Oh, that is Old Anna. When we have done everything medically for a baby, and it is still not doing well we turn the baby over to Old Anna and she is always successful.” Old Anna’s secret was eventually brought to Bellevue Hospital in New York City. It was there that they instituted a directive that every baby on the pediatric ward was to be mothered, or in other words, picked up and held. That year the life expectancy rate, on the ward, rose from 65% to over 90%. Our sense of touch, our first sense to develop, begins in utero before we are born and remains with us throughout our lives. Touch is essential to our survival.
Prenatal Massage
Nurturing touch has been an important piece of childbearing for thousands of years. During pregnancy a knowledgeable touch can provide a multitude of benefits. The
hands-on effects of massage support relaxation and, in turn, allow for many physiological changes to take place. A relaxed state of mind activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This regulates blood pressure and respiratory rate, which in turn promotes regular blood flow to the uterus, sustaining healthy growth to the fetus. The parasympathetic nervous system also creates balance in the body, reduces anxiety, stress and fear, providing a sense of security and a positive emotional state. The ability to relax is an essential element to the birth experience. With the capacity to let go the wellbeing of both the mother and baby, at the time of birth, are increased.
Aches, pain and other changes can also be addressed through prenatal massage. Pregnancy produces stress on many joints and muscles, increases blood volume up to 50%, and affects the gastrointestinal system, urinary system, lymphatic system, respiratory system and endocrine system. All of this can lead to discomfort through out the body. A well-educated prenatal massage practitioner will have many pain reducing methods to draw from that will aid in alleviating tender and sore areas. She will also know to ask the right questions and discern when a technique is contraindicated. Lastly, she will have range of motion and stretching skills that will help prepare for the flexibility needed for active birthing.
Postnatal Massage
After birth, mothers need both emotional and physical support. Exhaustion from birth, nursing and caring for an infant, can wear psychologically on a new mother. Post partum massage can provide the rest and healing time that new mothers need in order to recover from the excitement of giving birth. Physiologically, massage can cleanse the system of residual medication, help drain accumulated lymph, and ease soreness in muscle tissue. Postnatal massage techniques also help tone traumatized abdominal muscles and encourage the uterus back to its regular shape and size. After a C-section, postnatal massage can assist in reducing scar tissue at the site of incision.
Infant Massage
During the first few months of life, infant massage helps foster the critical bonds needed for parent-infant attachment. Infant massage provides tools for one-on-one time with a new baby. Infant massage has been proven to stimulate the myelin sheath surrounding the nerve cells. This sheath acts as a conductor for the nerve cells enabling them to transmit nerve impulses throughout the body. Healthy myelination of the nervous system is key to an infant’s development. Most infant massage classes run approximately five weeks and entail much more than just learning a few strokes. Each session includes discussion topics such as learning infant behavioral states, reading infant body language, how to address colic, crying, sleep and much more. Parents will have a forum to exchange ideas and discuss concerns pertaining to life with a new baby. Babies will enjoy the benefits of loving touch in a social and safe environment.
In a era when technology has infiltrated so much of our lives it is important to take the time to get back “in touch” with ourselves so that we may nurture and develop the innate skills that parents need to communicate love and bond within a new family. Through massage we can explore our “feelings” while we experience the benefits that are physical, psychological and emotional. Massage stimulates our senses, relaxes our tension and quiets our minds, making room for new life to begin.